Advertising displays



July 4, 1967 H. KRAVITT ADVERTISING DISPLAYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.

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INVENTOR. lfiW/IV HERBERT lf/PAV/T 7' United States Patent 3,328,906ADVERTISING DISPLAYS Irwin Herbert Kravitt, 8 S. 46th St., Philadelphia,Pa. 19134 Filed Dec. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 511,627 10 Claims. (Cl. 40-33)This application is a continuation in part of my prior application,filed Oct. 4, 1965, Serial No. 492,600, for Advertising Display.

This invention relates to advertising displays and more particularly toactivated displays in which the driving mechanism is concealed from viewin a manner such that observers are unable to ascertain the source ofmotive power and the mode of actuation of moving parts.

It has heretofore been proposed as in the Horton Patent No. 1,728,610,to provide a display device in which an object is rotated in front of aninclined mirror, by a drive shaft extending through the mirror to thedriving mechanism behind the mirror. This structure has seriousshortcomings not only as to the limited character of display but becauseof the limitations inherent in piercing a mirror.

It has also heretofore been proposed as in the Behning Patent No.1,729,472, to utilize the intersection of two vertical mirrors disposedat right angles. Extreme precision of shaping of the rotating elementand close tolerances as to the sizes of the rotating element and openingin which it is disposed are essential to preserve the illusion. Suchprecision is difficult to attain and there still remains the relativemotion of the peripheral edge of the rotating element which readilyindicates the disposition of the concealed part of the rotating element.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provideadvertising displays having moving objects with improved concealment ofthe actuating mechanism.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide advertisingdisplays having moving objects and in which a variety of objects can beselectively employed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide advertisingdisplays having concealed driving mechanism with a maximum ofconcealment and which are of simple but eifective construction.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide advertisingdisplays which embody an apparently empty box with thin walls and withrespect to which objects are supported and move with no visible means ofsupport and/or actuation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide anadvertising display which embodies an apparently empty box with thinwalls and spaced above a shelf or 0 the like, with a moving object inthe interior thereof and with a plurality of moving and changingmessages.

a It is a further object of the present invention to provide in anadvertising display of the character aforesaid, interior illuminationthe wiring for which is also concealed.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an ad vertisingdisplay which embodies an apparently empty box with thin walls and witha moving object in the interior thereof without visible means of supportor of actuation, the walls of the box being decorated in a manner toenhance the appearance of emptiness.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will beapparent from the description and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be morereadily understood from the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of an advertising display inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view from front to rear takenapproximately on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the line 33of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 44of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken approximately onthe line 5-5 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken approximately onthe line 66 of FIG. 2.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawingsherein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications andchanges can be made in the structure disclosed without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a receptacle 10 in theform of a box is shown having horizontal top and bottom walls 11 and 12,vertical side walls 13 and a vertical rear wall 14 which is never withinthe view of an ordinary observer of the display. The front of thereceptacle 10 is open and substantially unobstructed so as to permit oflooking into the interior of the receptacle 10. The front of thereceptacle 10 may have a transparent wall 15 to reduce the entry of dustinto the interior without interfering with viewing the interior.

The top, bottom and side walls 11, 12 and 13 are preferably made ofrelatively thin material, particularly as compared with the frontopening of the receptacle, so as to make it clear from observation thatno motor or other power mechanism is capable of being concealed in thewalls. The walls 12, 13 and 14 may be held together by angular bindingstrips 16. The bottom wall 12 can be supported On V-shaped feet 17 ofstrap material so that the space below the bottom wall 12 and in andaround the feet 17 can be readily observed. A collapsible carryinghandle 18 can be secured to the top wall 11.

In order to provide an open space within the receptacle 10 side wallreflecting members are provided, preferably comprising two verticalmirrors 20 disposed in perpendicular planes with their front edges 21beveled and meeting at a right angle (see FIG. 6) and in a lineconnecting the center of the top wall 11 with the center of the bottomwall 12 .The rear edges 22 of the mirrors 20 are thus at the respectiveedges at which the side walls 13 meet the rear wall 14.

The mirrors 20 are preferably positioned and supported by wooden backingstrips 23 and a mirror backing sheet 24 may also be employed.

Metal frame elements 27 are provided, of angle cross section extendingalong the rear faces of the mirrors 20, with vertical flanges 25.

The interiors of the side walls 13 can have any desired finish but apreferred covering is of corrugated sheet material, as at 29, with thecorrugations vertical. The sheet material can be paper, metallic foil orother desired material.

A concealed space 30 is accordingly provided, to the rear of the mirrors20, in front of the rear Wall 14, and between the top and bottom walls11 and 12.

Within the space 30 and carried on a frame bar 31, which is supported onhorizontal flanges 32 of the frame elements 27, an electric motor 35 isprovided. The motor 35 is preferably of slow speed type or with abuilt-in speed reducer, and has a vertical shaft 36. The shaft 36 has abelt driving roller 37 secured thereto which engages with an endlessband or belt 38 disposed for movement in a horizontal path. Theexposedface of the belt or band 38 can have an advertising message displayedthereon, successive portions of which are advanced to a position to beread from the position of an observer looking into the front of the box10.

The band 38 is guided and supported by rear flanged guide rolls 39carried by the frame elements 27, and intermediate guide rollers 40carried by a bracket 34 on a horizontal frame bar 41 (see FIG.

A pressure roller 42 is provided carried on a stub shaft 43 which isslightly movably or deflectably supported on a post 44 bolted to thebottom wall 12. The roller 42 is urged by a tension spring 46 secured tothe shaft 43 and to the frame bar 31 to a position to increase thetension of the belt 38 and the length thereof which is in engagementwith the roller 37, thereby providing a more posi-' tive drive.

The frame bar 41 has a vertical frame bar 45 secured thereto which ismounted at its lower end on the bottom wall 12.

The frame bar 41 extends forwardly through a concealed opening 48 at themeeting front edges 21 of the mirrors 20 and supports a fixed verticalshaft 49 on which upper and lower dished plates 50 and 51 are carried onbearings 52. The plates 50 and 51 have grooved portions 53 and 54 inwhich the band or belt 38 is seated.

The upper dished plate 50 has a peripheral face 55 on which anadvertising message can advantageously be displayed for continuousadvancing to a position for viewing upon turning of the plate 50, and anupper face 56 on which an article to be displayed can be carried.

The band or belt 38 is also preferably held in position in the groovedportions 53 and 54 by front rollers 58 which are carried by the framebar 41 in the same manner as the rollers 40.

It will be noted that the dished plates 50 and 51 are of such diameterand are so arranged that they effectively conceal as viewed from thefront of the box 10, the opening 48 as well as the rollers 58 and theirsupporting Structure.

At the upper and lower front margins of their inner faces of the sidewalls 13, upper and lower light screens 60 and 61 can be provided behindwhich electric lamp sockets 62 and incandescent lamps 63 are located,the wiring (not shown) running to the rear space 30 and being concealedbetween the sheets 29 and the side walls 13.

A switch 65 can be provided, on the concealed rear wall 14 forcontrolling the energization of the motor 35 and/ or the lamps 63, theconductor (not shown) controlled by the switch 65 extending from therear Wall 14 so that it cannot be seen from an observer in front of thebox The manner of use will now be pointed out.

The box 10 is preferably placed in a store window or on a shelf, or atany other appropriate location at which the front of the box 10 facestoward the observer, the rear wall 14 cannot be seen, and the electricalconductor for supplying energy cannot be seen by the observer.

Rotation of the motor shaft 36 is effective for driving the belt or band38 which continuously drives the dished plates 50 and 51 but without anyspecial emphasis on how the plates 50- and 51 are rotated.

An article (not shown) placed on the upper face 56 of the plate 50 isturned so that its sides are necessarily dis-' played to an observer.

The continuous movement of the band 38 and the periphery of the plate 50successively bring to the observer the messages thereon.

The disposition of the dished plates 50 and 51, and the band 38 is suchthat their actuating mechanism cannot be seen by an observer in front ofthe box 10.

The mirrors 20 effectively conceal the space 30 and the operatingmechanism therein contained.

It will thus be seen that apparatus has been provided for attaining theobjects of the invention.

I claim:

1. An animated display device comprising a receptacle having top, bottomand side walls and an open front,

a mirror member interiorly disposed in said receptacle and havingportions extending at an angle of 45 with respect to at least two ofsaid walls and disposed with respect to said top wall to provide a rearinterior concealed space bounded in part by said top wall,

a rotatable display member exteriorly and forwardly disposed withrespect to said space, and mounted on an upright axis for rotation,

motor means in said space,

driving connection, driven by said motor means and including an endlessband extending through said mirror member and in driving engagement withsaid rotatable member,

said rotatable member being in concealing relation to the location atwhich said band extends through said mirror member.

2. An animated display device as defined in claim 1 in which saidrotatable member includes a dished plate having a peripheral messagedisplay rim.

3. An animated display device as defined in claim 1 in which saidrotatable member includes a dished plate having an upper article displayface.

4. An animated display device as defined in claim 1 in which saidrotatable member has a seating rirn portion in which said band isengaged.

5. An animated display device as defined in claim 1 in which guiderollers are provided interiorly and exteriorly of said mirror member forguiding said band, and

said rotatable member is in visual concealing relation to saidexteriorly disposed guide rollers.

6. An animated display device as defined in claim 1 in which said spacehas mounted therein resiliently urged tensioning roller in engagementwith said band.

7. An animated display device as defined in claim 1 in which said sidewalls along the interior thereof have a corrugated covering forreflection by said mirror memher.

8. An animated display device as defined in claim 1 in which a framemember is provided in said space, and

said frame member has a forwardly extending portion intersecting saidmirror member and on which said rotatable member is carried.

9. An animated display device as defined in claim 8 in which saidforwardly extending portion has guide rollers for said band carriedthereby, and

said rotatable member is in visual concealing relation to said guiderollers.

10. An animated display device as defined in claim 1 in which lightsources are provided Within said receptacle and forwardly of said mirrormember for illuminating the visible interior part of said receptacle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,728,610 9/1929 Horton 40-28 X1,729,472 9/ i929 Behning 4028 X 2,273,604 2/ 1942 Vetter 40-33 EUGENER. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

W. J. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN ANIMATED DISPLAY DEVICE COMPRISING A RECEPTACLE HAVING TOP, BOTTOMAND SIDE WALLS AND AN OPEN FRONT, A MIRROR MEMBER INTERIORLY DISPOSED INSAID RECEPTACLE AND HAVING PORTIONS EXTENDING AT AN ANGLE 45* WITHRESPECT TO AT LEAST TWO OF SAID WALLS AND DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO SAIDTOP WALL TO PROVIDE A REAR INTERIOR CONCEALED SPACE BOUNDED IN PART BYSAID TOP WALL, A ROTATABLE DISPLAY MEMBER EXTERIORLY AND FORWARDLYDISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO SAID SPACE, AND MOUNTED ON AN UPRIGHT AXIS FORROTATION, MOTOR MEANS IN SAID SPACE, DRIVING CONNECTION, DRIVEN BY SAIDMOTOR MEANS AND INCLUDING AN ENDLESS BAND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID MIRRORMEMBER AND IN DRIVING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ROTATABLE MEMBER, SAIDROTATABLE MEMBER BEING IN CONCEALING RELATION TO THE LOCATION AT WHICHSAID BAND EXTENDS THROUGH SAID MIRROR MEMBER.